Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The No. 19-ranked Hutchinson Community College softball team exploded for two huge innings on Friday at Fun Valley to earn a sixth-straight Jayhawk Conference sweep.

First-place Hutchinson broke open a tied game with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to defeat third-place Seward County 8-2 in the opening game on Friday. The Dragons then tied a season high with nine runs in the fourth inning to complete the sweep of the Saints 12-3 in five innings.

The Blue Dragons extended their winning streak to 12 games, which matches a 2016 winning streak for the fourth-longest win streak in program history. The Dragons improved to 24-4 overall and 15-1 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Saints have now lost six games in a row and fell to 17-11 overall and 8-4 in the KJCCC. Hutchinson travels to Colby for a KJCCC doubleheader on Saturday.

GAME 1 RECAP
The Blue Dragons trailed 1-0 in the fifth inning and tied the game with a Madison Grimes' double high off the left-center field wall to score Haley Miller.

The tie was broken one inning later when Allie Stipsits led off the inning with a long home run to left field for a 2-1 lead. That broke the Dragon offense loose. Held to just two hits over the first four innings, Hutchinson tallied 11 hits in its final two at-bats.

Leading 3-1 after pinch-runner Lexi Pitcher scored on a bad Saints' throw, Miller ripped an RBI triple to center, Grimes drove in a run through the right side and Natalie Bevan doubled in a run to make it 6-2. Riley Wertz then capped the big inning with a two-run home run to left for an 8-1 lead.

Ella Dougherty, Miller, Grimes, Stipsits and Aspen Goetz all had two hits each for the Blue Dragons.

Hutchinson out-hit Seward County 13-5. Seward leadoff hitter Paris Brieneese was 4 for 4 with a triple to lead Seward County.

Wertz improved to 9-0 in the pitching circle pitching the final two innings. Wertz had three strikeouts, but allowed an unearned run and two walks, but no hits. Emily Munson received a no-decision after five strong innings. Munson allowed four hits and one earned run with three strikeouts and three walks.

GAME 2 RECAP
Madison Pack and Beth Denny hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the fourth inning and help Seward County tie the Blue Dragons at 3-all.

The Blue Dragons immediately jumped on several Saints' mistakes in the bottom of the fourth to regain the lead. Hutchinson immediately regained the lead after leadoff hitter Dougherty walked, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a while pitch and scored on a Miller sacrifice fly for a 4-3 lead. Grimes then walked and then Bevan skied a fly ball to right field that was dropped, which opened the flood gates for the Dragons.

Carley Sterneker laced a two-run triple down the right-field line. Goetz also delivered a two-run double, Dougherty had a sacrifice play and Grimes ripped a two-run double to right center to complete a nine-run inning for a 12-3 lead.

The nine-run inning tied the nine-run second inning against the Ottawa University JV on Opening Day on January 29.

Miller went 3 for 3 with a run scored, RBI and stolen base to lead the Blue Dragons' 13-hit attack. This was Miller's fifth three-hit game of the season.

Sterneker was 2 for 3 with a double, triple and three RBIs. Goetz had a pair of doubles in a 2 for 2 game. She scored two runs and had three RBIs. Easton Swanson went 2 for 3 as well.

Sadie Loney (5-3) earned the pitching win in relief. Loney gave up a home run to the first batter she faced, but then retired 6 of the final 7 batters she faced. Kiersten Weitze worked the first three innings and struck out four.